Multimedia Development Corp will increase its focus on innovation in 2010 through the Innovate My Process initiative under the MSC Malaysia Capability Devleopment Programme (CDP).

Its chief executive officer Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the move will enable more MSC-status companies to raise their level of competitiveness in both local and global market.

According to him, the programme has proven to alleviate MSC companies in the global stage in securing million-dollar contracts and compete head on with the global players. “In the global market, the differentiator would be the capability. When it comes to software products and services, vendors are not chosen based on the country of origin, but on the quality of the products and services.”

One such company is Pentasoft Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which in 2009 won eight out of 20 of the international contracts it pursued against competition from the US, UK and India, generating revenues of more than RM14 million.

“They (Pentasoft) could do this because they could display their ability with certifications like ISO 20000, software testing and CMMI Maturity Level 5, which they achieved through the CDP programme,” he said.

Innovate My Process’ programme, which started early this year, helps MSC-status companies achieve globally-recognised certifications such as the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), ISO 20000 (IT service management), ISO 27001 (information security management system), software testing, Six Sigma and professional development.

The programme addresses key areas of customer service, systematic innovation, cost optimization, process improvement, product performance enhancement and brand management.

“The programme has managed to attract 20 per cent participation or 250 MSC companies, and we are looking at 40 per cent participation in two years, and 60 per cent by end of RMK9 (Ninth Malaysia Plan).”

He said new programmes that will be introduced next year will focus on intellectual property and expand the current MSC Malaysia CDP marketing programme in product and service commercialization. MSC Malaysia CDP will also introduce the Product Assessment Framework and MSC Malaysia Product Rating standard.

“These initiatives will help promote the development of quality products among MSC-status companies,” said Badlisham, adding that MDeC will get an independent body to evaluate the products as well as the Government’s co-operation in recognising them.